Mail-bag catcher.



W. A. MISKIMBN.

MAIL BAG UATGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED Imm, 1912,

1,052,609. Patented 1fe10.11,19134 m fw MMM W Alorney COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..WAsHINGTON. D, c.

WILLIAM A. IVIISKIMEN, OF HOOPESTON, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BAG CATCI-IER.

Application filed February 8, 1912.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. Miskr- MEN, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Hoopeston, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, broadly, to the class of mail bag catchers, and more specifically to that class of mail catchers which are provided with means for assuring the life of the mail bags. In the accomplishment of this result I have employed a device comprising a body portion having a mouth piece connected thereto. Carried by the mouth piece is a knife member which engages a cable which supports the mail bag, whereby it is cut and the mail bag allowed to enter the mouth piece. Within the mouth piece and the body portion are mounted a plurality of rollers over which the mail bag travels until it loses its momentum.

With the above and other objects in view my invention relates to such details of construct-ion and in the arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout t-he several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form. Fig. 4 is a detail view. Fig. 5 is another detail view. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the top of the casing. Fig. 7 is a modified form of means for supporting a mail bag.

In the accompanying drawings which fully illustrate the preferred and modified forms of my invention, the numeral I designates a plurality of standards upon which is disposed a platform 2, it being secured to the standards by any suitable means. Supported by the platform 2 is the body portion 3 of my device, the said body portion having hingedly connected thereto a door t and provided at one end with a flaring mouth piece 5, the mouth piece having a. knife member 6 positioned therein for engagement with the cable 7 which is connected at its upper end to a hook 8 and supports the mail bag 9. The mouth piece Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. til, i913.

Serial No. 676,363.

5 is supported by the means shown at 10. However, I desire it to be understood that I may substitute any dierent forms of means in place thereof.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a structure l1 to which the cables '7 are connected, t-hey having the mail bag in engagement therewith and the mouth piece is provided with a plurality of knife members 6, they being disposed at each side for engagement with the cables.

In Fig. 3 is disclosed a modified form of my invention. In the construction of this device the bottom of the body portion is rounded so that the mail bag will travel a greater distance each time it encircles the body portion and it facilitates the removal of the bag therefrom.

Positioned within the body portion and mouth piece of my invention are the rollers 12 which are revolubly supported by the pins 13 as shown, whereby when the mail bag 9 enters it will tend to move in a circle over the rollers until it loses its momentum. It is obvious that by employing the use of the rollers the life of the bags is lengthened because there is no shock or jar when they enter the device, whereby they will not become torn in any way.

It is thought that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be recognized from the foregoing disclosure.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in the construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, provided however, such changes fall within scope of the subjoined claims.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a mouth in said casing, a cutting blade secured to said casing within said mouth, and a plurality of rollers mounted within said casing as and for the purpose set forth and described.

2. In a device of the character described, a body portion having a aring mouth piece secured thereto, and a plurality of rollers mounted within said mouth piece andn said body portion, for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the character described,

a body portion having a Haring mouth piece secured thereto, knife members carried by said mouth pieoe, and a plurality of rollers positioned Within said mouth piece and said body portion, for the purpose described.

5 4. Ina device of the character described, a body portion having a aring mouth piece secured thereto, knife members carried by said mouth piece and a plurality of rollers revolubly supported Within said 10 mouth piece and said body portion, for the purpose described.

5. In a device ofthe character described,

a body portion having a door hingedly connected thereto, a flaring mouth piece secured to said body portion, knife members 15 Connected by said mouth piece, and a plurality of rollers revolubly supported Within said mouth piece and said body portion, for the purpose described.

WILLIAM A. MisKiMEN.

lVitnesses:

I. B. CARTRIGHT, E. M. VEBSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

